Which voice do you listen to?

I clicked the TV off exasperated with the constant background noise.  Still I was surrounded by sound.  Someone is mowing next door, my growing too fast boy is both Facetiming and a playing a video game with a friend, and the doorbell just rang.  Compared to the world outside, my home is quiet.  However, this week I can’t help but think of the voices and noise that surround us all the time.  Am I allowing myself quiet enough to hear God’s whisper? 

It seems we are constantly under siege of voices, opinions, commentaries, even music and books and conversations.  Each of these things can be powerful connectors to our people, but they can also be powerful separators from our people and our own souls and especially from God’s voice. 

If I listen to the voice that separates, I may believe that it’s just a matter of time until all Christians decide their doubt wins over their faith.  I may believe the work will never get done.  I may believe more bad things happen than good.  I may believe an evening of “sit and scroll” counts as quality time. 

The voice that separates isn’t a new one.  Elijah, the Old Testament prophet, heard and listened to that voice.  Then ran from Jezebel and journeyed 40 days into the wilderness until he reached Mount Horeb. 

There, the Lord promised to pass by. God was not in the wind or the earthquake or the fire.  He was in the whisper, the still, small voice (1 Kings 19). God CAN be in the fire – He was the burning bush speaking to Moses in Exodus 3.  God CAN be in the storm – He spoke to Job as a whirlwind in Job 38. 

But, He was with Elijah as a whisper. 

As the story continues in 1 Kings 19, God sends Elijah back with instructions to connect with (anoint) three people.  God has appointed them for specific purposes.  Elijah is faced with a choice – listen to the voice that separates and stay in the cave away from Jezebel and her threat or listen to the Voice that connects and anoint his successor and two new kings.  In our noisy and full lives – with music and podcasts and influencers and app notifications and even theological speakers – it’s difficult to listen to the mighty voice that connects and steadies our step, to God’s whisper.  We can intentionally choose which voices we will lean toward and echo. 

My growing too fast boy has dubbed himself the DJ for our morning commute.  Each morning he asks for my phone and chooses the music that will start our day.  He presses play, gives me a smile and then leans back.  He’s usually quiet the rest of the way.  So, for the moment, I lean into the side by side bonding time.  Both of us quietly listening, connecting to each other and tuning into the Voice that connects. 

Which voice filled your ears yesterday?  Which will you choose to echo today? 

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Psalm 119:11

Hugs and blessings – Bethany